Salisbury << SAWLZ `behr` ee >> lies about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of London, in southern England. It is in the Wiltshire unitary authority (local government area), which has a population of 510,330. Salisbury is also called New Sarum (pronounced SAR uhm). The town has several service and high-technology industries. It is also a popular tourist attraction. The town is famous for its cathedral, the top of whose spire is 404 feet (123 meters) from the ground. The cathedral was built as part of a new town to replace the town of Old Sarum in the 1200’s. All that remains of Old Sarum is a large mound with earthen ramparts (defensive banks). Stonehenge, the largest prehistoric structure in western Europe, stands near Salisbury (see Stonehenge).
